How Stoicism Changed The Way Ali Abdaal Views Productivity

Trusting Process

Trusting the process is a crucial element in maintaining creativity and productivity, as Ali Abdaal and Ryan Holiday discuss. Ali shares his experience of creating over 700 YouTube videos, emphasizing that while the initial recording often feels chaotic, the final product is always polished thanks to editing. This understanding allows him to embrace the imperfections of a first draft, knowing the process will refine it 1. Ryan compares this to a comedian's rhythm of working on new material regardless of the success of their last special, highlighting the importance of enjoying the process itself 2.

It's hard to trust a process that you have not been through before. Once you've done it one time, you have a sense of the full scope of the process.

--- Ryan Holiday

Ali also reflects on the Zen proverb "chop wood, carry water," reminding himself to focus on the process rather than the outcome, even when tempted by external validations like bestseller lists 3.

   

Process vs Outcome

Balancing the creative process with the outcome is a nuanced challenge that Ali Abdaal navigates by focusing on what he can control. He avoids obsessing over analytics, recognizing that while some aspects of his work's success are within his control, others are not. This approach helps him maintain happiness and creativity without becoming a caricature of himself 4.

The more I look at the numbers, the less happy I am with the creative output.

--- Ali Abdaal

Ryan Holiday adds that both positive and negative feedback can distract from productivity, as basking in success or dwelling on failure takes time away from creating new work 5. He advises that if one is to waste a day, it should be spent doing something enjoyable rather than endlessly refreshing social media feeds.